Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 16th October, 2019, 5.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Centre Folkestone

Contact: Jemma West 

Media

Items
No. Item

24.

Declarations of Interest

Members of the Council should declare any interests which fall under the following categories:

 

a)   disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI);

b)   other significant interests (OSI);

c)   voluntary announcements of other interests.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest at the meeting.

25.

Minutes

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2019.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on 11 September 2019 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chairman.

 

26.

East Kent Housing - Electrical Installation testing for Housing, Water risk assessments and budget summary

This report has been prepared in response to the safety compliance issues identified in respect of East Kent Housing’s management of the housing tenanted properties. The report reviews the current position with EICR compliance and makes recommendations on a new inspection regime. The report further updates the position with regards to water risk assessments and the budget provisions needed for completion of these works. The report ends with a summary of year to date additional costs for compliance improvements mainly related to additional EKH staff. 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The report had been prepared in response to the safety compliance issues identified in respect of East Kent Housing’s management of the housing tenanted properties. The report reviewed the current position with EICR compliance and made recommendations on a new inspection regime. The report further updated the position with regards to water risk assessments and the budget provisions needed for completion of these works. The report ended with a summary of year to date additional costs for compliance improvements mainly related to additional EKH staff. 

 

The report had also been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting held on 15 October 2019. Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet members at the meeting.

 

Proposed by Councillor Godfrey,

Seconded by Councillor Collier; and

 

RESOLVED:

1.        That report C/09/31 be received and noted.

2.        That the council adopt a five-year rolling programme of electrical installation testing of its tenanted properties.

3.        That an additional budget provision of £118,000 be agreed for 19/20 and subsequent years for electrical installation testing and remedial works to be funded from the HRA.

4.        That the actions and budgets allocated for Water Risk Assessment compliance works be noted.

5.        That the additional budget provisions allocated to EKH for management fee increases for 19/20 and 20/21 and other costs, be agreed with a full reassessment to be undertaken when considering the 2020/21 HRA budget. 

 

(Voting figures: 5 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

 

REASONS FOR DECISION

 

·         The recommendation to move to a five-year rolling programme of EICR inspections is based on best practice and expected legislative changes.

·         The recommendation for additional funding water risk assessment compliance works is based on health and safety requirements.

 

27.

East Kent Housing - Housing Management: future options appraisal

This report set out a headline options appraisal of future housing management options, taking into consideration the current arrangements between the four councils (Canterbury City Council, Dover District Council, Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Thanet District) and East Kent Housing.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The report set out a headline options appraisal of future housing management options, taking into consideration the current arrangements between the four councils (Canterbury City Council, Dover District Council, Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Thanet District) and East Kent Housing.

 

The report had also been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting held on 15 October 2019. Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet members at the meeting.

 

 

Proposed by Councillor Godfrey,

Seconded by Councillor Collier; and

 

RESOLVED:

1.            That report C/19/29 be received and noted.

2.            That the council’s preferred option be withdrawal from EKH, returning housing management services back in-house under direct management of the council, subject to formal consultation with all tenants (and leaseholders) to satisfy the requirements of Section 105 of the Housing Act 1985.

3.            That council makes available up to £250,000 from the HRA in 2019/20 and 2020/21 (split to be determined) to support interim transition management costs, subject to option 2 being supported.

4.            That any minor amendments to the options and consultation documents to be delegated to the Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Special Projects.

5.            That the consultation results be presented to Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet for consideration in early 2020.

6.            That on receiving the consultation results, the report be referred to Full Council for discussion, prior to the final decision being taken by Cabinet.

 

(Voting figures: 5 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

 

REASONS FOR DECISION:

There have been  concerns regarding the performance of East Kent Housing in terms of asset management, procurement and the delivery of the capital programme for some time and more recently these concerns have been heightened by the apparent deterioration in tenant health and safety compliance. In July 2019, Cabinet agreed for an options appraisal to be undertaken regarding the future delivery of housing management in the district.

 

 

28.

Climate Change Emergency - update following resolution of Council on 24 July 2019

This report is to update Cabinet on work that has been done to implement the Council resolution of 24 July 2019 on the climate change emergency, including the setting up of a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Working Group and the recruitment of a Low Carbon Specialist to advise on and guide further work. 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The report updated Cabinet on work that had been done to implement the Council resolution of 24 July 2019 on the climate change emergency, including the setting up of a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Working Group and the recruitment of a Low Carbon Specialist to advise on and guide further work. 

 

Proposed by Councillor Wimble,

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee; and

 

RESOLVED:

1.        That report C/19/28 be received and noted.

 

(Voting figures: 5 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

 

REASONS FOR DECISION

That Cabinet be kept up-to-date and can recommend any further actions as appropriate. 

 

29.

Medium Term Financial Strategy 2020/21 to 2023/24

The Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) is the Council’s key financial planning document.  It puts the financial perspective on the council’s Corporate Plan priorities, expressing the aims and objectives of various plans and strategies in financial terms over the four year period ending 31st March 2024.  It covers both revenue and capital for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account.  Also included are the Council’s reserves policies.  The MTFS is a key element of sound corporate governance and financial management.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) is the Council’s key financial planning document.  It puts the financial perspective on the council’s Corporate Plan priorities, expressing the aims and objectives of various plans and strategies in financial terms over the four year period ending 31st March 2024.  It covers both revenue and capital for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account.  Also included are the Council’s reserves policies.  The MTFS is a key element of sound corporate governance and financial management.

 

The report had also been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting held on 15 October 2019. Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet members at the meeting.

 

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee; and

 

RESOLVED:

1.    That report C/19/26 be received and noted.

2.    That Cabinet recommend to Full Council that the Medium Term Financial Strategy, as appended to this report, be adopted. 

 

(Voting figures: 5 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

 

REASONS FOR DECISION:

 

Cabinet was asked to agree the recommendations because:-

 

(a)       The MTFS is the council’s key financial planning document.

(b)       The strategy defines the financial resources needed to deliver the council’s corporate objectives and priorities and covers the financial implications of other key strategies.

(c)        The council needs to be able to carry out an early assessment of the financial implications of its approved policies and strategies and also external financial pressures facing the authority to ensure that it has robust budgeting and remains financially viable. 

 

30.

Refresh of the Council's Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Policy 2019

The Council is part of the statutory safeguarding role within the wider public sector, with responsibilities to children, young people and vulnerable adults. The safeguarding policy of the Council has been updated and is attached at Appendix 1. A review of safeguarding activity and current status is presented in Appendix 2.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Council is part of the statutory safeguarding role within the wider public sector, with responsibilities to children, young people and vulnerable adults. The safeguarding policy of the Council has been updated and a review of safeguarding activity and current status was also presented.

 

The report had also been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting held on 15 October 2019. Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet members at the meeting.

 

Proposed by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee,

Seconded by Councillor Godfrey; and

 

RESOLVED:

1.        That report C/19/32 be received and noted.

2.        That the refreshed safeguarding policy for adoption by the Council (set out at Appendix 1 of the report) be approved.

3.        That the breadth of activity carried out around safeguarding in the review (set out at Appendix 2 of the report) be noted.

 

(Voting figures: 5 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

 

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Cabinet was asked to agree the recommendations because:

 

a)           The Safeguarding Policy is required to be refreshed every 2 years and the last review took place in September 2017.

b)           There have been some significant changes in practice and new legislation impacting on the Council’s safeguarding responsibilities.

 

31.

Treasury Management mid-year monitoring report 2019/20

This report provides an update on the council’s treasury management activities that have taken place during 2019/20 against the agreed strategy for the year. The report also provides an update on the treasury management indicators approved by Cabinet earlier this year.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The report provided an update on the council’s treasury management activities that have taken place during 2019/20 against the agreed strategy for the year. The report also provided an update on the treasury management indicators approved by Cabinet earlier this year.

 

The report had also been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting held on 15 October 2019. Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet members at the meeting.

 

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Collier; and

 

RESOLVED:

That report C/19/27 be received and noted.

 

(Voting figures: 5 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

 

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

Cabinet was asked to agree the recommendations because:

 

a)    Both the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management and the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules require Members to receive a report on the Council’s treasury management activities during the year.

 

32.

Land at Ship Street, Folkestone

This report seeks authority to acquire the former gasworks site in Ship Street, Folkestone (East Folkestone Ward).

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The report sought authority to acquire the former gasworks site in Ship Street, Folkestone (East Folkestone Ward).

 

The report had also been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting held on 15 October 2019. Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet members at the meeting.

 

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Godfrey; and

 

RESOLVED:

1.         That report C/19/30 be received and noted.

2.         That the site at Ship Street be purchased for the sum set out in the report;

3.         That the application to Homes England to support the remediation of the land be noted; and

4.         That a further report be brought forward on the proposed development of the site.

 

(Voting figures: 6 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

 

(During consideration of this item, Councillor Meyers joined the meeting).

 

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Ship street former gas works site is unlikely to be redeveloped without public sector involvement.  Accordingly Cabinet are requested to agree the acquisition.